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[Q] root for 4.1.1 on Nexus S without data loss

Hello,
I want to get root on my current stock android 4.1.1 on my Nexus S without data loss to backup the wifi settings.
I could only find this exploit for 4.1.1, which doesn't work for me: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1886460
Can anybody help me by pointing out a current exploit for stock 4.1.1 on Nexus S?

I've unlocked the bootloader now and stored the wifi settings on google servers, which worked, but it also restored some other things I wanted to get rid off. Now I would like to become root on my device with the current stock system to save only the wifi settings (e.g. with titanium backup) and install cm 10 later.

Now I've flashed clockworkMod Recovery v6.0.1.0 on my device as described in cyanogen wiki. I've found this guide for rooting the stock system with a custom recovery. Is this a good idea or is there something better?

white-gecko said:
Now I've flashed clockworkMod Recovery v6.0.1.0 on my device as described in cyanogen wiki. I've found this guide for rooting the stock system with a custom recovery. Is this a good idea or is there something better?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it's a good idea, this guide was created not long ago so things haven't really changed since then.

Thank you. I rooted the device according to these instructions, installed a wifi backup tool from market and did a backup of only the wifi settings. Now I'm running CM 10.0 and I will reapply the wifi settings with this app.
Thank you
(I think this thread can be closed now, but I don't know how)

white-gecko said:
Thank you. I rooted the device according to these instructions, installed a wifi backup tool from market and did a backup of only the wifi settings. Now I'm running CM 10.0 and I will reapply the wifi settings with this app.
Thank you
(I think this thread can be closed now, but I don't know how)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Leave it to die a peaceful death, and good job rooting your Nexus S. Enjoy it!

[Q]About rooting and flashing ROM (a noob asks)

i'll try to be brief:
-if i root my phone (s3 mini), will samsung updates cause problems? would you suggest that i also flash the ROM (to smth custom like cyanogenMod)
-does the utility to root the phone provide a full backup of the stock firmware and data? so, if smth goes wrong i can revert back to stock (with my apps and settings. at worst, default factory settings).
-if i flash the ROM, will i lose anything? -say- will i lose proprietary stuff like touchwiz?
-do custom ROMs use the latest android version (that's one of the reasons that i wanna root & flash: to be up to date to latest android version)?
-can custom ROMs update to newer android versions automatically? or do i have to flash again and again everytime there is a new android update?

When I rooted my Galaxy S3 the status of the phone (visible in the preferences/device info) changed to "modified" and I stopped getting updates from Samsung (when checking for updates it said that I had a modified system so I wouldn't be able to get any updates). If you flash a ROM you will indeed loose everything, including Touchwiz, but if you backup your personal data then loosing Touchwiz could be a good thing, at least it was for me. I prefer Cyanogenmod.
Flashing ROMs is frequently done because you actually want to loose all that proprietary bloatware. Custom ROMs also can give you access to the latest Android version right away, wich is a lot faster than waiting months to get last year's version through Samsung. This is one of the main reasons why I decided to flash my phone. I don't use all the "features" that Samsung implements and with Cyanogenmod 10.1 my phone feels faster and has longer battery life.
As for updating, each ROM has different ways of handling it. Cyanogenmod has OTA updates which you can access through your phone "Settings/About phone" section and it will automatically flash them for you.
wtx1033 said:
i'll try to be brief:
-if i root my phone (s3 mini), will samsung updates cause problems? would you suggest that i also flash the ROM (to smth custom like cyanogenMod)
-does the utility to root the phone provide a full backup of the stock firmware and data? so, if smth goes wrong i can revert back to stock (with my apps and settings. at worst, default factory settings).
-if i flash the ROM, will i lose anything? -say- will i lose proprietary stuff like touchwiz?
-do custom ROMs use the latest android version (that's one of the reasons that i wanna root: to be up to date to latest android version)?
-can custom ROMs update to newer android versions automatically? or do i have to flash again and again everytime there is a new android update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

hcengar said:
When I rooted my Galaxy S3 the status of the phone (visible in the preferences/device info) changed to "modified" and I stopped getting updates from Samsung (when checking for updates it said that I had a modified system so I wouldn't be able to get any updates). If you flash a ROM you will indeed loose everything, including Touchwiz, but if you backup your personal data then loosing Touchwiz could be a good thing, at least it was for me. I prefer Cyanogenmod.
Flashing ROMs is frequently done because you actually want to loose all that proprietary bloatware. Custom ROMs also can give you access to the latest Android version right away, wich is a lot faster than waiting months to get last year's version through Samsung. This is one of the main reasons why I decided to flash my phone. I don't use all the "features" that Samsung implements and with Cyanogenmod 10.1 my phone feels faster and has longer battery life.
As for updating, each ROM has different ways of handling it. Cyanogenmod has OTA updates which you can access through your phone "Settings/About phone" section and it will automatically flash them for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you
the replies were as i hoped i am gonna root and flash soon.
but i am still looking for a reply to this one:
does the utility to root the phone also provides a full backup of the stock firmware and data? so, if smth goes wrong i can revert back to stock (with my apps and settings. at worst, default factory settings).

wtx1033 said:
thank you
the replies were as i hoped i am gonna root and flash soon.
but i am still looking for a reply to this one:
does the utility to root the phone also provides a full backup of the stock firmware and data? so, if smth goes wrong i can revert back to stock (with my apps and settings. at worst, default factory settings).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. You can use clockwork mod (cwm) to backup everything. Its recommended to take your backup using cwm before flashing a custom Rom. So that whenever you want your stock back or something with your new rom goes wrong you can revert back. You can use cwm to restore or use Odin which will make your device like when you bought it. You can restore the data alone using advance restore and your device will be like before flashing custom rom.

haridevil99 said:
Yes. You can use clockwork mod (cwm) to backup everything. Its recommended to take your backup using cwm before flashing a custom Rom. So that whenever you want your stock back or something with your new rom goes wrong you can revert back. You can use cwm to restore or use Odin which will make your device like when you bought it. You can restore the data alone using advance restore and your device will be like before flashing custom rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i guess, if smth goes bad during rooting i cannot revert back. since for backup one needs to root the device beforehand. is this right?

wtx1033 said:
i guess, if smth goes bad during rooting i cannot revert back. since for backup one needs to root the device beforehand. is this right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont think cwm needs root access to take a backup. And you can rely on odin always if you got stock rom. So something goes wrong, Odin to the rescue.. So try taking backup with cwm first then root. Anyway if the root update was made for your device then its very very rare for things to go wrong.

[Q] Installed TWRP. I have questions on it's use cases.

I am new to android. I got sick of apps not being able to write to my SD card so I eventually got the guts to attempt rooting (which worked) and then I even convinced myself to try and install TWRP because I heard I can type commands in there to get my device still rooted after encrypting since superSU does not work after encryption (not tried it yet).
I updated to a new version of TWRP 2.8 I think? Any way, what kind of safety net do I have now? I am in the process of doing a fresh backup (everything ticked) with this new version of TWRP and I will trash the old one once this is done. I had zero intentions of flashing custom OS' on my Galaxy S4 mini (I9195 LTE) for fear of bricking my first ever brand new android phone.
Once this backup is created (and duplicated on every damn hard drive I have for backup purposes...) what kind of protection is this? Could I experiment with Cyanogen Mod and have no fear of it failing to load, have problems with it once installed, something go wrong and phone won't boot up? Would I be able to load my backup into TWRP and magically the phone would be in the state it is in today, rooted and everything?
If there are any things I should know I would appreciate being made aware of them before I dare proceed with any (what I assume would be potentially dangerous things) flashing custom roms etc because I want to always ensure I can get my phone to exactly the state it is now, with all my google apps still installed and everything. With everything ticked on my backup, is there anything that wouldn't be able to be restored, as in apps/data or anything?
Sorry for sounding like a noob, but as far as android and flashing is concerned, I am a noob.
tldr; Essentially I just want to be informed, as well as I can be, as to what I can now do (that I have TWRP installed and made a backup) and what I still shouldn't do, what isn't covered in a backup with all boxes ticked etc.

Morthawt said:
I am new to android. I got sick of apps not being able to write to my SD card so I eventually got the guts to attempt rooting (which worked) and then I even convinced myself to try and install TWRP because I heard I can type commands in there to get my device still rooted after encrypting since superSU does not work after encryption (not tried it yet).
I updated to a new version of TWRP 2.8 I think? Any way, what kind of safety net do I have now? I am in the process of doing a fresh backup (everything ticked) with this new version of TWRP and I will trash the old one once this is done. I had zero intentions of flashing custom OS' on my Galaxy S4 mini (I9195 LTE) for fear of bricking my first ever brand new android phone.
Once this backup is created (and duplicated on every damn hard drive I have for backup purposes...) what kind of protection is this? Could I experiment with Cyanogen Mod and have no fear of it failing to load, have problems with it once installed, something go wrong and phone won't boot up? Would I be able to load my backup into TWRP and magically the phone would be in the state it is in today, rooted and everything?
If there are any things I should know I would appreciate being made aware of them before I dare proceed with any (what I assume would be potentially dangerous things) flashing custom roms etc because I want to always ensure I can get my phone to exactly the state it is now, with all my google apps still installed and everything. With everything ticked on my backup, is there anything that wouldn't be able to be restored, as in apps/data or anything?
Sorry for sounding like a noob, but as far as android and flashing is concerned, I am a noob.
tldr; Essentially I just want to be informed, as well as I can be, as to what I can now do (that I have TWRP installed and made a backup) and what I still shouldn't do, what isn't covered in a backup with all boxes ticked etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The backup covers /system (Android OS with settings) /data (all user apps with settings) /EFS (Latest TWRP should backup this, too - MOST IMPORTANT as it stores your IMEI and baseband code) /boot (kernel) + caches (not that important)
In any case your phone has a "DOWNLOAD" mode integrated in the bootloader that will allow you to restore all partitions except "EFS" by flashing the stock firmware via ODIN. So as long as you have a EFS backup and nandroid backup and you don't screw up the phones bootloader (You could do this by flashing a firmware for another (incompatible) Samsung model via ODIN) you're on the safe side. You stock rom backup or a custom rom backup can easily be restored via TWRP. Even if TWRP brakes, you can flash it again via ODIN as long as your bootloader is fine.

LS.xD said:
The backup covers /system (Android OS with settings) /data (all user apps with settings) /EFS (Latest TWRP should backup this, too - MOST IMPORTANT as it stores your IMEI and baseband code) /boot (kernel) + caches (not that important)
In any case your phone has a "DOWNLOAD" mode integrated in the bootloader that will allow you to restore all partitions except "EFS" by flashing the stock firmware via ODIN. So as long as you have a EFS backup and nandroid backup and you don't screw up the phones bootloader (You could do this by flashing a firmware for another (incompatible) Samsung model via ODIN) you're on the safe side. You stock rom backup or a custom rom backup can easily be restored via TWRP. Even if TWRP brakes, you can flash it again via ODIN as long as your bootloader is fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, so Odin is the only thing that could screw my phone up, given that I have a backup? What about if I attempt to install an incompatible rom via TWRP? Is that just as dangerous? Also if I were to some how screw up the bootloader, how would I fix that? In what circumstance might the bootloader get screwed up? From putting a custom mod on? Or is the bootloader getting screwed something specifically I would have to foolishly mess with?
If I download a cyanogen mod zip file and do the install through TWRP, would that essentially wipe everything and start completely fresh with the new OS as a virgin clean OS? Then I am correct, I hope, that if I want to get back my phone how it is now, with the stock firmware, rooted I would just do an install on TWRP and choose the backup and it would just make everything as it is currently? Even if it were screwed up and unable to boot into an OS? If that is the case, I would be a lot more open to trying different mods.
If I do try a custom rom like Cyanogen, is there an official way to get the google apps like playstore and gmail etc on it? I have seen random guides with strange links like "trust us this is a legit download!" Hmm...
Sorry for all the questions guys, I am just trying to become educated on key things before I attempt any other further things.

Morthawt said:
Ok, so Odin is the only thing that could screw my phone up, given that I have a backup? What about if I attempt to install an incompatible rom via TWRP? Is that just as dangerous? Also if I were to some how screw up the bootloader, how would I fix that? In what circumstance might the bootloader get screwed up? From putting a custom mod on? Or is the bootloader getting screwed something specifically I would have to foolishly mess with?
If I download a cyanogen mod zip file and do the install through TWRP, would that essentially wipe everything and start completely fresh with the new OS as a virgin clean OS? Then I am correct, I hope, that if I want to get back my phone how it is now, with the stock firmware, rooted I would just do an install on TWRP and choose the backup and it would just make everything as it is currently? Even if it were screwed up and unable to boot into an OS? If that is the case, I would be a lot more open to trying different mods.
If I do try a custom rom like Cyanogen, is there an official way to get the google apps like playstore and gmail etc on it? I have seen random guides with strange links like "trust us this is a legit download!" Hmm...
Sorry for all the questions guys, I am just trying to become educated on key things before I attempt any other further things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Asking is good. Better safe than sorry
Yes, in case flash TWRP via ODIN, restore the backup and you should be fine.
Bootloader repair is about 40$ on ebay.
. Before flashing any new (different) rom,perform a NANDROID BACKUP" + manually internal SD Crad backup and then a FULL WIPE (/system /data /cache /dalvik cache /internal SD (Virgin like)
- If you just install a newer version of the same rom e.g. 03/01/2015 -> 03/14/2015 you only need to wipe /cache /dalvik cache (Not so virgin like)
- You can restore all apps/settings from NANDROID backups with "Titanium Backup" on your new OS
- I never heard of flashing a custom rom via recovery messed up the bootloader on Samsung phones, (In rare cases the EFS but you got the backup)
- Use only THIS GApps and make sure you pick the right version (For Android 4.4.x / 5.0.x / 5.1.x) -> Smallest (Pico bundle) will totally do it, you can install any other needed apps (also google's apps) from the pklaystore. Legit and safe.
Make sure you READ and UNDERSTOOD everything before you start flashing a custom rom.

LS.xD said:
Asking is good. Better safe than sorry
Yes, in case flash TWRP via ODIN, restore the backup and you should be fine.
Bootloader repair is about 40$ on ebay.
. Before flashing any new (different) rom,perform a NANDROID BACKUP" + manually internal SD Crad backup and then a FULL WIPE (/system /data /cache /dalvik cache /internal SD (Virgin like)
- If you just install a newer version of the same rom e.g. 03/01/2015 -> 03/14/2015 you only need to wipe /cache /dalvik cache (Not so virgin like)
- You can restore all apps/settings from NANDROID backups with "Titanium Backup" on your new OS
- I never heard of flashing a custom rom via recovery messed up the bootloader on Samsung phones, (In rare cases the EFS but you got the backup)
- Use only THIS GApps and make sure you pick the right version (For Android 4.4.x / 5.0.x / 5.1.x) -> Smallest (Pico bundle) will totally do it, you can install any other needed apps (also google's apps) from the pklaystore. Legit and safe.
Make sure you READ and UNDERSTOOD everything before you start flashing a custom rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh I will read everything before trying anything serious like this. I felt as if I was smashing my phone into the ground when I rooted it lol, so dangerous :S, even though I was following a guide. But now that I have all the tickboxes ticked and backed up and I have also copied that backup to 2 different hard drives... I should be safe with that.
So for my additional questions.
Is it possible but unlikely/impossible etc that a custom OS rom install through TWRP would break TWRP to the point of being non-functional to perform restores? (if so I know I could follow the guide again to install TWRP again)
Just to clarify, I should wipe everything except EFS right? When I do a completely new OS rom, perform the install and it should work or it will break. Regardless if it is broken and non functional OR it worked and I don't like it for some reason, I do the same thing again, boot to TWRP, format everything except EFS and install my backup and then the next time my phone is ready for use it will be as if nothing was ever done to it. Does that sound about right? If so, I might have an experiment with Cyanogen.
Also, you said you never heard of the bootloader being screwed over by a TWRP-based rom install. Does that also cover incorrect roms for a different model of the handset or completely different phones? I guess what I mean is, is it safe to perform an OS mod install via TWRP (in case you got the wrong one) and more dangerous to do it through odin if it is the wrong one?
I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 mini GT-I9195 LTE. I see the latest "stable" release is only version 10 of cyanogen mod? Yet there is v11 and v12 versions all without any stable release. Does that mean 11 and 12 won't work on my S4 mini or that it would be a mistake to install it on my phone? Or is there a method I can tell which one would be the best one to get for my phone (newest best)?
Lastly, as for odin, since I have TWRP and a backup of my phone as it is now, is there any reason to use odin for anything other than maybe reinstalling TWRP? If so, what else would require me to use odin that TWRP couldn't do?
Thanks so much for answering my questions, it is really making me feel more confident with the whole process. I don't like going into things blind, I'm a computer techie and like to know what I am doing and why I am doing it. This phone customization business is entirely new to me beyond changing settings and themes lol.

Is it possible but unlikely/impossible etc that a custom OS rom install through TWRP would break TWRP to the point of being non-functional to perform restores? (if so I know I could follow the guide again to install TWRP again)
--> You could flash a wrong zip containing a recovery (Probably you will not do)
Just to clarify, I should wipe everything except EFS right? When I do a completely new OS rom, perform the install and it should work or it will break. Regardless if it is broken and non functional OR it worked and I don't like it for some reason, I do the same thing again, boot to TWRP, format everything except EFS and install my backup and then the next time my phone is ready for use it will be as if nothing was ever done to it. Does that sound about right? If so, I might have an experiment with Cyanogen.
--> Yes
Also, you said you never heard of the bootloader being screwed over by a TWRP-based rom install. Does that also cover incorrect roms for a different model of the handset or completely different phones? I guess what I mean is, is it safe to perform an OS mod install via TWRP (in case you got the wrong one) and more dangerous to do it through odin if it is the wrong one?
--> Every rom has an updater-script that (normally) checks the compatiblity before TWRP installs it
I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 mini GT-I9195 LTE. I see the latest "stable" release is only version 10 of cyanogen mod? Yet there is v11 and v12 versions all without any stable release. Does that mean 11 and 12 won't work on my S4 mini or that it would be a mistake to install it on my phone? Or is there a method I can tell which one would be the best one to get for my phone (newest best)?
--> Stable means NO BUGS, Nightlies are updated nearly every day with the latest commits as they are in development status. May or may not contain bugs. Check out the specific rom thread on xda. Stability of the rom / bugs are discussed there by the users every day. So you can check out which version will work.
Lastly, as for odin, since I have TWRP and a backup of my phone as it is now, is there any reason to use odin for anything other than maybe reinstalling TWRP? If so, what else would require me to use odin that TWRP couldn't do?
--> Restore the phone to fully stock firmware. Such official firmware can be found at SamMobile.com
And most important: Press "thanks" at the botom of my posts

(had to remove quotes due to outside links preventing my posting.)
If I were to flash a stock firmware rom with odin, would it destroy TWRP? At which point I could flash it back on again? Or would TWRP still be there?
I think I am going to actually try Cyanogen, once I decide on a build to try. Are there any "minimum requirements" for cyanogen major versions? Like I could see I shouldn't install CM12 on my S4 mini and should instead try ones prior to 12? Or is it pretty much just a features and updates thing and 12 would work just as effectively (in terms of just "working smoothly" discounting any bugs etc) as 10?
Thanks button pressed on them, because truly your information is extremely helpful.

If I were to flash a stock firmware rom with odin, would it destroy TWRP? At which point I could flash it back on again? Or would TWRP still be there?
--> TWRP will be replaced by the stock recovery. You can instantly flash TWRP again.
I think I am going to actually try Cyanogen, once I decide on a build to try. Are there any "minimum requirements" for cyanogen major versions? Like I could see I shouldn't install CM12 on my S4 mini and should instead try ones prior to 12? Or is it pretty much just a features and updates thing and 12 would work just as effectively (in terms of just "working smoothly" discounting any bugs etc) as 10?
--> Your phone got enough permorfance to handle any kind of android version available. Bugs and performance are rom related.

LS.xD said:
If I were to flash a stock firmware rom with odin, would it destroy TWRP? At which point I could flash it back on again? Or would TWRP still be there?
--> TWRP will be replaced by the stock recovery. You can instantly flash TWRP again.
I think I am going to actually try Cyanogen, once I decide on a build to try. Are there any "minimum requirements" for cyanogen major versions? Like I could see I shouldn't install CM12 on my S4 mini and should instead try ones prior to 12? Or is it pretty much just a features and updates thing and 12 would work just as effectively (in terms of just "working smoothly" discounting any bugs etc) as 10?
--> Your phone got enough permorfance to handle any kind of android version available. Bugs and performance are rom related.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So when they say 5.x isn't coming to the S4 mini, that's a sales thing only?! Not based on performance limitations of my phone's hardware?
EDIT: Should I wipe Preload?

Morthawt said:
So when they say 5.x isn't coming to the S4 mini, that's a sales thing only?! Not based on performance limitations of my phone's hardware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just like that. I use 5.x on both of my phones
Galaxy Ace II -> performance is okay, with 4.4.4 it runs as hell, better than ever with stock firmware [Last official Android is 4.1]
HTC One S -> Flying on a Lollipop [Last official Android is 4.1]

LS.xD said:
Just like that. I use 5.x on both of my phones
Galaxy Ace II -> performance is okay, with 4.4.4 it runs as hell, better than ever with stock firmware [Last official Android is 4.1]
HTC One S -> Flying on a Lollipop [Last official Android is 4.1]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am having trouble finding any specific information about the S4 mini LTE and CM12. I don't know if I should try the last version of CM11 instead? Not sure to try a CM12 or CM11 at the moment. I am sat here ready to perform the wipe but I just can't make my mind up which to try :|
Which reminds me, if I use the latest CM11, will there be any further security updates and things? Or are updates only on the nightlies? I would hope they will update CM11, I'd hate to think the only way you get updates is on the bleeding unstable edge :S ?

Morthawt said:
I am having trouble finding any specific information about the S4 mini LTE and CM12. I don't know if I should try the last version of CM11 instead? Not sure to try a CM12 or CM11 at the moment. I am sat here ready to perform the wipe but I just can't make my mind up which to try :|
Which reminds me, if I use the latest CM11, will there be any further security updates and things? Or are updates only on the nightlies? I would hope they will update CM11, I'd hate to think the only way you get updates is on the bleeding unstable edge :S ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Possible security issues can be fixed later by modules. By the way, stock firmware is also updated just a few times and stays at this state. If you want as less trouble as possible a CM11 variant will be more sensefull for your purpose. Feel free to get some more informations HERE

LS.xD said:
Possible security issues can be fixed later by modules. By the way, stock firmware is also updated just a few times and stays at this state. If you want as less trouble as possible a CM11 variant will be more sensefull for your purpose. Feel free to get some more informations HERE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am on the latest CM11 snapshot Amazing! Although I am confused by some of the options. Is there any documentation on the OS? I see for Network modes things like "2G | 3G", or "2G | 2G + 3G" and "2G | 3G | 2G + 3G" . I pretty much can assume I know that 2G | 3G means 2 or 3G but when it comes to ones with +'s that is just confusing. 2G and 3G at the same time? No idea lol.

Unfortunately the compass sensor does not work. I may have to either risk trying a CM12 or go to CM10 :/ What would you recommend?

Morthawt said:
Unfortunately the compass sensor does not work. I may have to either risk trying a CM12 or go to CM10 :/ What would you recommend?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
2G = GSM Data
3G = UMTS / HDPA / WCDMA Data
Do you often need the compass sensor?
SlimKAT is a fast, lightweight rom and should be working.

LS.xD said:
2G = GSM Data
3G = UMTS / HDPA / WCDMA Data
Do you often need the compass sensor?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not always but when I am using offline navigation software, it is very handy to see realtime if I am pointed in the right direction instead of having to wait for enough distance to be detected to determine what way I am pointing. I don't like limitations. Period. That is the root of why I am messing with... well, root and roms. I could not use software to write to my SD card because of some security "enhancement" which just crippled the functionality of having an android phone. First I rooted and used SDFIX or what ever it is, now I am testing roms to see if I can find a good one. I have the latest (this year) stable AICP installing and gaps currently. I will give this one a whirl and see what I think. I was disappointed that I could not find a nice "Hey.. this is why you should choose our rom!" page. Nothing. Just a download link and ability to get the source code.
I want to read about all the amazing reasons and features why AICP (or any rom for that matter) is a great choice. But I found no such page.

Morthawt said:
Not always but when I am using offline navigation software, it is very handy to see realtime if I am pointed in the right direction instead of having to wait for enough distance to be detected to determine what way I am pointing. I don't like limitations. Period. That is the root of why I am messing with... well, root and roms. I could not use software to write to my SD card because of some security "enhancement" which just crippled the functionality of having an android phone. First I rooted and used SDFIX or what ever it is, now I am testing roms to see if I can find a good one. I have the latest (this year) stable AICP installing and gaps currently. I will give this one a whirl and see what I think. I was disappointed that I could not find a nice "Hey.. this is why you should choose our rom!" page. Nothing. Just a download link and ability to get the source code.
I want to read about all the amazing reasons and features why AICP (or any rom for that matter) is a great choice. But I found no such page.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can't find any custom rom that fits your needs, you can also choose a modified (debloated) stock firmware if you need 100% functionality.

LS.xD said:
If you can't find any custom rom that fits your needs, you can also choose a modified (debloated) stock firmware if you need 100% functionality.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those exist in the TWRP zip format? Where can I find those?

Morthawt said:
Those exist in the TWRP zip format? Where can I find those?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I should have read before I answered Seems not to exist for your phone. I don't know the reason.

First Phone Steps. (What to do first) ?

Coming off of the Samsung S5 and going to the Honor 8 (Phone should be here tommorow)
On the samsung I had safestrap loaded for recovery, rooted, xposed, and many rooted apps.
I was also running stock rom because of lack of room, also lack of options.
The honor 8 looks like it is easy to get TWRP on it and get it unlocked bootloader.
Not sure about custom roms , looks like there are a few but is stock good ?
Also what about emui5 ?
Here is my current plan unless other suggestions:
Do titanium backup and nandroid on old phone.
Remove Sim and SD
Activate new phone with current sim (May need to go to att to trim)
Unlock Honor 8 bootloader.
Get TWRP loaded.
Root phone
load exposed , SU, Busy box, TB, (not in that order)
Load apps from Google play and overwrite data from TB if needed.
That is about it, so if I do this right should have stock rom and fully rooted and recovery.
currently looking at using Somboons tool for most of it.
This is a repost of my origional , but did in the wrong forums opps on my part.

I think before any mod on this device get used to the function of the unmodified device. And there after do your mods if you happy, unless you've already used this device.

eracet said:
Coming off of the Samsung S5 and going to the Honor 8 (Phone should be here tommorow)
On the samsung I had safestrap loaded for recovery, rooted, xposed, and many rooted apps.
I was also running stock rom because of lack of room, also lack of options.
The honor 8 looks like it is easy to get TWRP on it and get it unlocked bootloader.
Not sure about custom roms , looks like there are a few but is stock good ?
Also what about emui5 ?
Here is my current plan unless other suggestions:
Do titanium backup and nandroid on old phone.
Remove Sim and SD
Activate new phone with current sim (May need to go to att to trim)
Unlock Honor 8 bootloader.
Get TWRP loaded.
Root phone
load exposed , SU, Busy box, TB, (not in that order)
Load apps from Google play and overwrite data from TB if needed.
That is about it, so if I do this right should have stock rom and fully rooted and recovery.
currently looking at using Somboons tool for most of it.
This is a repost of my origional , but did in the wrong forums opps on my part.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have just got my honor 8 and all my other phones have been rooted and using custom Roms.
With this and with the updates and beta N I'm finding that I don't have to.
Using this ROM and using the custom themes that are available it's enough to keep me happy.
I'm looking forward to 2 years worth of updates.
It's an excellent phone and I really like the EMUI 5
Think hard before you root etc. There ain't any finished custom roms as yet.
There is no need to root to get rid of bloatware as the Rom let's you delete most of what you don't want.
Why you need to root ?
Try the phone and see what you can do.
Have fun
John
Sent from my Honor 8 using XDA Labs

johnhux7 said:
I have just got my honor 8 and all my other phones have been rooted and using custom Roms.
With this and with the updates and beta N I'm finding that I don't have to.
Using this ROM and using the custom themes that are available it's enough to keep me happy.
I'm looking forward to 2 years worth of updates.
It's an excellent phone and I really like the EMUI 5
Think hard before you root etc. There ain't any finished custom roms as yet.
There is no need to root to get rid of bloatware as the Rom let's you delete most of what you don't want.
Why you need to root ?
Try the phone and see what you can do.
Have fun
John
Sent from my Honor 8 using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I root for many programs , titanium backup , es file explorer, APs toSD pro, xposed and some others.
On the same Samsung there was tons of junk on it.
I know if I go TWRP there isnt much use at the moment. Unless I need to sideload something.
Don't really need a custom rom, not yet at least.
Wondering if I root and keep the stock rom would be the best thing.
Can I load TWRP later ?
Heard it will break the EMUI 5 update.
Or I could always do TWRP , Root etc and then load EUMI 5 or custom version manually someday.

eracet said:
I root for many programs , titanium backup , es file explorer, APs toSD pro, xposed and some others.
On the same Samsung there was tons of junk on it.
I know if I go TWRP there isnt much use at the moment. Unless I need to sideload something.
Don't really need a custom rom, not yet at least.
Wondering if I root and keep the stock rom would be the best thing.
Can I load TWRP later ?
Heard it will break the EMUI 5 update.
Or I could always do TWRP , Root etc and then load EUMI 5 or custom version manually someday.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes mate you could root and keep the stock ROM but you will lose the option to get the OTA updates.
Just way up the pro's and cons and see if you really need to root.
I used to use titanium back up and yes it's a great app but there ain't really many options of custom ROMs to go back and forward between to need it in my case. Also now that as soon as you log into your Google account when going into a new rom you get your apps back anyway.
I have a couple of phones and I have root and am running CM14.1 on one of them and I can do more with this EMUI 5 beta N as I can do with CM14.1 !
I personally am gonna stick with stock on this phone for a good while. (At least till there are loads of roms to choose from)
John
Sent from my Honor 8 using XDA Labs

johnhux7 said:
Yes mate you could root and keep the stock ROM but you will lose the option to get the OTA updates.
Just way up the pro's and cons and see if you really need to root.
I used to use titanium back up and yes it's a great app but there ain't really many options of custom ROMs to go back and forward between to need it in my case. Also now that as soon as you log into your Google account when going into a new rom you get your apps back anyway.
I have a couple of phones and I have root and am running CM14.1 on one of them and I can do more with this EMUI 5 beta N as I can do with CM14.1 !
I personally am gonna stick with stock on this phone for a good while. (At least till there are loads of roms to choose from)
John
Sent from my Honor 8 using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is the EMUI 5.0 only coming on a Push update?
Or is it possible to flash it or any custom coming out with it. ?
I seen there is a signup for beta now.
I do need root ( I dont save anything to the cloud services) all local
Apps themselves will load from play store and amazon store, just the game data or any other data will be manual reinstall.
From what I understand if I dont install custom recovery I can still get the OTA update when it is time.

eracet said:
Is the EMUI 5.0 only coming on a Push update?
Or is it possible to flash it or any custom coming out with it. ?
I seen there is a signup for beta now.
I do need root ( I dont save anything to the cloud services) all local
Apps themselves will load from play store and amazon store, just the game data or any other data will be manual reinstall.
From what I understand if I dont install custom recovery I can still get the OTA update when it is time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I got the beta N update it came as an OTA update although i do think that there are some links to getting it via twrp over in the roms thread. I might be wrong with that though. Have a look
Sent from my Honor 8 using XDA Labs

I were also used to root on all my previous phones including the last one I moved from which was the Galaxy S4.
EMUI has so many nice functions (including choosing whether standard storage should be internal or external) so I actually don't need root anymore. Not even for blocking ads since that can be done through VPN.
If you want to move over your app date without root then do a backup with ADB.
Search for "adb backup" and you'll find a XDA thread about it. I made such a backup and got all my app data moved over along with the apps.
Oh yeah, and personally I'm using Evie for a launcher but when EMUI 5 is published I think I'll move back to the stock launcher.
Bro, the stock ROM rocks with its customisability!
And one more thing; if you're eligible to get an extra year of warranty plus 3 months of free screen change in case it cracks then remember to sign up through the HiCare app.

I'll also be getting my Honor 8 shortly. The only reason I've rooted my phones in the past is for ad blocking. I see there's an app called "Block This" that does not require root? Will that work on this phone?

zippster1 said:
I'll also be getting my Honor 8 shortly. The only reason I've rooted my phones in the past is for ad blocking. I see there's an app called "Block This" that does not require root? Will that work on this phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've used AdGuard and it's brilliant, but it's not free.
EDIT: I'm currently using "Block This!" and it's working very well!

I use root for some games, game guardian.
Some games are pay to win. ( I don't mind paying some but don't rob me)
I did get the phone working with my cell company and currently getting the Sd card backed up just in case something goes wrong somewhere.
Looking at getting a bootloader unlock code, but there site doesn't seem to be working right.
Thanks for the suggestions on steps to do.
Read multiple tips and ideas.
Next step is get SD card installed and getting google account loaded up.

Well I installed everything, only thing I don't like so far is it forces apps like hangouts.
I know it was recommended that I do not to TWRP or root, but I did anyways. ( I took suggestions very serious Thank you)
Now trying to get used to setup is a little challanging, maybe playing around with it will help a lot.
Such as hard to find what actual apps I have like an app drawer.
You people are the best at helping out . Thank you so much for helping me get on track !

Just got my H8 on monday (FRD-L14) and am in the same boat- thinking of Rooting but with the lack of ROM support at the moment I think I'm going to stay stock for a bit. There are some xposed mods that i'd like to get back but the stock features are pretty solid as it is. I did the CM theme, Apex launcher, changed out Icons and I'm pretty damn happy with it!

flet2 said:
Just got my H8 on monday (FRD-L14) and am in the same boat- thinking of Rooting but with the lack of ROM support at the moment I think I'm going to stay stock for a bit. There are some xposed mods that i'd like to get back but the stock features are pretty solid as it is. I did the CM theme, Apex launcher, changed out Icons and I'm pretty damn happy with it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same model now FRD-L14.
Recovery , rooted, SU, xposed, F-droid.
Loaded my 20 root apps
I did not see a way to root without loading recovery.
There is another thread on TWRP.
What my plan down the road is to keep it like this , then eventtually (I assume early next year) see some development from Roms etc.
Hopefully a modified EUMI 5.
One of the major reasons I did not wait to start the process is because when you unlock bootloader it wipes.
So doing this now I cna set the phone up how I like. Then when the updating begins I can always go back to nandroid backup if something goes wrong.
Even though ATM the TWRP isnt backing up my rom (will update recovery when it does).

Nice- so i assume all the current "how to's" work fine for the L14? I've been reluctant to meddle too much since our model isn't specifically mentioned in most of the post here (though i assume anything for L04 applies). That and I don't see a stock firmware package out there to go back to if something goes wrong. I'm not a total noob but have only rooted and ROM'd with samsung devices so far (GS 2 and 3) which are so well documented and tested you really can't screw it up.

I'm really conflicted. I want to root simply because of the option for backing up app data rooted. I could care less about custom ROMs right now, but I want to be able to back up the data inside my apps like all the settings, messages, accounts etc etc. It is really annoying to me that I have to reset that when switching phones. I hate to say it but it seems like Apple does this better with iTunes backups (which is not an option for me though because I don't want to pay the money for an iDevice).
My issue on the H8 though is I rooted it just fine but then realized I forgot to do OTA updates first. So I did the OTA updates (full download) which basically re-locked, re-stocked my bootloader and unrooted the phone. Now in order to re-root, I have to go through unlocking again which is going to wipe all the customizations I already did. I really wish there was a way to keep a stock image WITH root but continue to do OTA updates...

Rooted questions.

Looking through the dev threads it doesn't look like there are many (if any?) custom roms for this phone, so what's all the hubbub with rooting it? I'm picking one up to replace a nexus 6, which is obviously rooted and rom'd out but other than TWRP I don't see a point? I'll gladly admit I'm no power user, but is there some advantage I'm missing? There's still no release for 8.0 unless I'm missing something.

Look for custom ROMs in the international G5 forum (https://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-g5/development). Most international custom ROMs work on the T-Mobile G5 (model H830). I only tried Fulmics, which is based on the stock international rom (https://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-g5/development/rom-02-01-fulmics-rom-1-0-v20a-tweaks-t3530406). There's also LineageOS and others.

HKSpeed said:
Look for custom ROMs in the international G5 forum (https://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-g5/development). Most international custom ROMs work on the T-Mobile G5 (model H830). I only tried Fulmics, which is based on the stock international rom (https://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-g5/development/rom-02-01-fulmics-rom-1-0-v20a-tweaks-t3530406). There's also LineageOS and others.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, see now this is a good reason. I also considered piracy apps, but that's not a "good" reason to root. Is the downgrading process pretty straight forward then?

The primary advantages of rooting even when no custom roms are available are
1) proper ad-blocking
2) proper backup
3) recovery mode (full system image backup & restore)
4) properly de-bloat system. Dont just disable a million apps and be stuck with certain things that run anyway or wont uninstall. With root you can completely remove junk bloatware from the carriers.
And of course, the ability to flash custom roms if any exist. So there's still plenty good reason to want to root your phone even if you are keeping a stock ROM.

RunNgun42 said:
The primary advantages of rooting even when no custom roms are available are
1) proper ad-blocking
2) proper backup
3) recovery mode (full system image backup & restore)
4) properly de-bloat system. Dont just disable a million apps and be stuck with certain things that run anyway or wont uninstall. With root you can completely remove junk bloatware from the carriers.
And of course, the ability to flash custom roms if any exist. So there's still plenty good reason to want to root your phone even if you are keeping a stock ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How can you root the T-Mobile G5?